The moment the gunshots rang out, Qi Zhu rushed in front of Qu Jiaran and Nan Yu without hesitation.
Undoubtedly a professional, he quickly found the fastest and safest escape route and led the two of them to evacuate immediately.
Although the situation was still unclear, it was certain that the shooter wasn't targeting them.
However, the panic could trigger a stampede and cause unnecessary casualties.
Qi Zhu raised his arm to protect Qu Jiaran, while Qu Jiaran tightly grabbed Nan Yu. "Yu Yu, stay close to me!"
In the dense crowd, Nan Yu felt her phone vibrating. As soon as she took it out, it was knocked out of her hand by a passer - by.
There was no time to pick it up. The panicked crowd trampled on the screen and kicked it into an unknown corner.
It was impossible to look for the phone then, so Nan Yu quickly averted her gaze and followed Qi Zhu and Qu Jiaran to flee in a hurry.
They finally stopped until they reached a safe area.
Qi Zhu turned to Qu Jiaran. "Miss, are you okay?"
Qu Jiaran turned to Nan Yu. "Yu Yu, are you okay?"
Nan Yu: ...
It was such a strange and funny scene.
Nan Yu shook her head. "Thanks, I'm okay, but I lost my phone."
Qu Jiaran comforted her, saying that a new phone could be bought later, and staying alive was the most important thing.
"I want to call Tan Linyuan."
Since the sudden accident at the auction, he should have received the news.
She was safe and sound now, but Tan Linyuan might not know that. He must be extremely worried.
She just wanted to let him know she was okay.
Qi Zhu nodded understandingly and immediately took out his phone to call Tan Linyuan.
With the high - level professionalism of a professional bodyguard, he calmly and concisely reported their current situation in just two sentences.
They were safe, and he also reported their location.
"Mr. Tan said he'll be here soon." Qi Zhu said to Nan Yu.
While waiting in the safe area, they learned that someone had sneaked into the auction. The target was one of the world - famous paintings up for bid.
The suspect had been captured and taken to the police station.
It turned out to be just a farce.
Qu Jiaran clicked her tongue. "Is it really worth shooting just for a painting? It scared me to death."
Qi Zhu frowned and remained silent for a long time.
Nan Yu noticed something strange and asked, "Qi Zhu, do you have any thoughts?"
Qi Zhu thought for a moment and said, "The suspect's methods were rather clumsy. This is no different from seeking death."
Firing a gun in a heavily guarded place full of surveillance cameras and infrared detectors was no different from surrendering directly.
But the suspect's motive was hard to fathom.
Nan Yu pondered.
Just then, a rush of footsteps came.
Nan Yu looked up instinctively. The next second, she was hugged tightly by Tan Linyuan.
A cold, slightly bitter fragrance with a hint of woody incense filled her nose.
When he hugged her, his arms trembled slightly.
Nan Yu was stunned for a moment. She could feel his lingering fear and obvious vulnerability.
After a long pause, she placed her hand on his back and gently patted him. "I'm okay."
A few seconds later, he let go.
Seeing that he had calmed down, Nan Yu whispered, "I wasn't the target, and the suspect has been arrested."
After a long while, Tan Linyuan spoke. His tone was emotionless. "Okay, let's go home."
Qu Jiaran originally wanted to tease Tan Linyuan for being so panicked, saying that he was not as calm as they were.
But in the end, she kept silent and silently watched them leave.
"Miss, let's go home too." Qi Zhu said.
Qu Jiaran looked up at Qi Zhu standing tall in front of her. She recalled how he had protected her at the first moment.
She felt a strange flutter in her heart.
There was an academic term called the "suspension bridge effect", which meant that when a person's heart rate accelerated in a crisis or panic situation, an ambiguous contact with the opposite sex at that time could create an illusion of falling in love.
Activities such as bungee jumping, roller - coasters, and gliding could all trigger such emotions.
Qu Jiaran wasn't sure if she was experiencing the "suspension bridge effect" towards Qi Zhu.
However, she only hesitated for a second and quickly put it out of her mind.
She was never the type to worry about things unnecessarily.
So she generously held out her hand. "I'm afraid there might still be danger. Hold my hand."
Qi Zhu was stunned.
His ears were so red that they seemed to be dripping blood. He stiffly and awkwardly took Qu Jiaran's hand. "M - Miss..."
"You held me so tightly just now." Qu Jiaran couldn't help but tease him when she saw his sudden embarrassment. "Why don't you hold me now?"
"Miss, don't tease me."
Qu Jiaran said, "We're already married. You're my husband."
Qi Zhu said, "Yes."
Qu Jiaran said, "Then what should you call me?"
Qi Zhu said, "Miss."
Qu Jiaran: ...
Forget it.
---
Tan Linyuan helped Nan Yu into the car and fastened her seat - belt.
His voice seemed calm, but his breathing was still a bit unsteady. "Were you scared?"
Nan Yu shook her head. "Not really. Qi Zhu is a great bodyguard."
Tan Linyuan rubbed his temples. There was a faint anger in his eyes. "I sent a bunch of useless people. I'll fire them later."
Nan Yu explained that the accident happened right after the auction. The crowd was running everywhere, and because Qi Zhu had reacted quickly, the others hadn't been able to keep up in time.
Tan Linyuan fell silent.
This wasn't the time to pursue these matters.
Nan Yu tried to liven up the atmosphere. "But I lost my phone. You have to buy me a new one."
Tan Linyuan said, "Okay."
Nan Yu also mentioned the seal to Tan Linyuan, but he seemed absent - minded throughout.
"Do you have something on your mind?" Nan Yu asked.
Tan Linyuan's hand on the steering wheel paused for a moment. After a while, he said indifferently, "No, I just haven't recovered yet."
As perceptive as he was, he naturally suspected why someone would be so stupid as to fire a gun at an auction.
After Qi Zhu reported the situation, he immediately contacted the police to inquire.
The police said that the suspect had indeed come for the famous painting, and the person who bought the painting was the suspect's old enemy.
It seemed to be a personal feud.
But Nan Yu had been on the scene.
The fleeting sight in the Buddhist hall kept replaying in his mind.
The kind - looking Buddha statue and the abbot's words "pull back from the brink and cut your losses in time".
Was this a warning from God?
The gun hadn't been aimed at Nan Yu this time, but what about next time?
Should he still take the risk?
In this battle against fate, how much chance did he have of winning?
"Tan Linyuan, are you hiding something from me?"
Tan Linyuan reached out and gently touched her face, looking into her eyes.
Nan Yu felt her heart skip a beat.
Tan Linyuan leaned closer to her and said in a low voice, "As long as you're safe, I can give up everything else."